Rodman back in North Korea to coach national side

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman has arrived for another five-day visit of North Korea, where he will coach the national basketball team.

Rodman first went out to North Korea in September, when he maintained he was making a "friendly" visit to the communist nation's leader Kim Jong Un.

His latest venture comes weeks after the leader's uncle was executed, although Rodman assured reporters politics had "nothing to do with him."

Rodman told Reuters: "I mean, whatever his uncle has done, and whoever's done anything in North Korea, I have no control over that. I mean, these things have been going on for years and years and years. I'm just going over there to do a basketball game and have some fun."

To commemorate Kim Jong Un's birthday, Rodman will organise an exhibition game between North Korea and a group of former NBA professionals.

However, the US State Department issued a statement saying Rodman's visit was not representative of his home nation's government.

"Dennis Rodman is not a representative of the US government in his trip to North Korea," spokeswoman Marie Harf said.